Cosmetics and Acne
What You Need To Know About Them
The problem is that roughly 30% of all cosmetics users have skin that is acne prone women and men, teens and adults. Nearly everybody uses make up cosmetics, hair products, and beauty and hygiene aids. So to avoid cosmetic acne you need to know what it is and which cosmetic ingredients cause it.
Cosmetic Acne
Acne cosmetica is
- Many elevated small whiteheads on cheeks, chin, sometimes forehead
- Dangerously cyclical (covering up with acne-promoting cosmetics encourages…more cosmetic acne…more cover-up)
Navigating The Advertising Lingo
What is “Oil Free?”
- Often a synthetic oil even more comedogenic (cosmetic acne causing) than natural oils such as mineral
What is “Hypoallergenic?”
- Often means perfume-free, but often contains ingredients harmful to acne-prone skin
What is “Dermatologist Tested?”
- Often tested for skin allergies; not necessarily its effects on skin pores
More importantly, learn to read labels and avoid ingredients culprits.
Ingredients To Avoid Causing Cosmetic Acne
There are three main offending categories ingredients that cause cosmetic acne.
1. Lanolins
- One of most common ingredients in cosmetics
- From sheep; oil from wool
- Fatty acids in synthetic lanolin particularly aggravating
2. Isopropyl Myristate and its Chemical Cousins
- One of the worst penetrating oils
- Main ingredient in Liquid Wrench
- Used to give a slicker, sheer feel
Cousins include
- isopropyl palmitate
- isopropyl isothermal
- putty stearate
- isostearyl neopentonate
- myristyl myristate
- decyl oleate
- octyl sterate
- octyl palmitate
- isocetyl stearate
- PPG myristyl propionate
- laureth 4
3. D & C Pigments in make up cosmetics (stands for Drug & Cosmetic)
- These are red tints used in many blushes
- Coal tar derivatives
Particularly check moisturizers, since many of them contain stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, acetylated lanolin and other cosmetic acne causing ingredients. According to dermatologist research, the best moisturizing ingredients are petrolatum and mineral oil.
So, just as we do with food and medicine, get in the habit of checking cosmetics ingredients lists. And remember that hair gels, mousses, shampoos and conditioners are cosmetics, too. All of them have the potential to cause cosmetic acne so check labels carefully. Remember: cosmetic acne is named for that which causes it.
To learn more about cosmetic acne - Read "Lets Talk Cosmetics" By James E. Fulton, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
Cosmetics Acne Solutions
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STOP: If using make up cosmetics
with the comedogenic ingredients
listed above you could be aggravating your acne and causing breakouts. Discontinue use of products that you suspect may be causing cosmetic
acne. |
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You can also switch to non-comedogenic makeup like glo minerals. Learn More 
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Comedone Extractor - Extract cosmetic acne
Schamberg Comedone Extractor
 Use the tool professionals use to extract cosmetic acne
Extract blackheads, pimples and clogged pores
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